The Fairfax County School Board held a month-long public comment period on possible new names, and held a virtual city council meeting and public hearing, before voting to rename the school Thursday to John R. Lewis High School.
“The name Robert E. Lee is forever connected to the Confederacy, and the Confederate values are the ones that don’t align with our community,” said school board member Tamara Derenak Kaufax, who proposed the name change, according to a Fairfax County Public Schools press release.
But he was also a leader in the civil rights movement, often alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He participated in sit-ins at the lunch counter, joined the Freedom Riders on challenging segregated buses, and was a keynote speaker in the historic March 1963. in Washington
“The Board heard from students, teachers and staff members, families and the community about the old name,” said school board president Ricardy Anderson in the press release.
“It was important for us to consider these comments and select a name that reflects the diversity and multiculturalism that currently exists at the school and in our community. Representative Lewis was an advocate for the Civil Rights movement and our Board strongly believes that this it is an appropriate tribute to an individual who is a true American hero. “
The board said the name change will be effective for the 2020-2021 school year.
Everyone, we just changed the name from Robert E. Lee High School to John Lewis High School. When he was president of education for @FairfaxNAACP in 2019, we were told that we would never remove Lee from this community. We proved that we are this community. One step ahead and talk, everyone! “
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